BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production with Foundation Year

UCAS CODE: JEM4
TARIFF: 32 - 56
  • Study Mode: Full time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Four Years
  • Start Date: September 2022

You can also study this course:

Electronic Music Production covers both essential and advanced production and composition techniques. You will explore new methods of sound creation and manipulation using industry standard software.
 Develop your skills and understanding in this area, whilst bringing your ideas to life, from demo to final output. Try your hand in everything from arranging to producing using our state-of-the-art facilities, such as audio suites.
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Open Days

We understand that when it comes to deciding where you’d like to study, there are a lot of things to consider. Come along to our Open Day and discover why BNU could be the place for you. You can find out more about your course, meet the course team, and get all your questions answered.

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Application Guide

For everything you need to know about applying, check out our Application Guide. You can find useful information for each stage of your application journey – from before you even apply to what to do if you receive an offer, and everything in between.   

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Students' Union

At BNU, we believe in putting our students first. That’s why we’re the only university in the UK to offer free access to such a diverse and exciting range of activities through our SU – all to enrich your university experience.

Why study this subject?

​​​​​​From music producer to producing sound for film, apps and games, to artist, writer or programmer, electronic music production opens a variety of opportunities in the industry. Combine your creativity and skills, with the best equipment, teaching and hands-on experience to ensure you graduate career-ready. Stay updated with all our latest BNU Audio and Music news by following us on Instagram @bnu_music.

Source girl sitting down writing her next song

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

BNU has been delivering courses in the music industry for over 25 years, we have a wealth of expertise from within our network of lecturing staff, guest speakers, and alumni, all with a track record of success in a wide variety of roles in the music business internationally.

If you have an interest in electronic music production, and in particular a focus on DJ and live electronics performance technologies, BNU is the place for you.

Like the industry, we put collaboration at the centre of what we do. You will get the chance to work with other BNU courses, such as the Film and TV students. You’ll record sound and work on post-production which will give you experience of working with a wide variety of genres to help you perfect your production skills.

During your time with us you’ll learn hands-on practical skills to help you stand out to potential employers. You’ll get to grips with industry-standard equipment including in our Sennheiser Sound Lab, ensuring upon graduation you are prepared for your first role.

All our music degrees at Buckinghamshire New University come with membership of UK Music’s Music Academic Partnership (MAP).

UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. We represent all sectors of our industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. The members of UK Music are: AIM, BPI, FAC, The Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL, PRS for Music. UK Music also has an informal association with LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment).

MAP is a ground-breaking collaboration between educational institutions and UK Music, and is designed to maximise the relationship between the industry and educational institutions in order to inform the next generation of industry professionals.

MAP does this by nurturing collaborative projects, such as research and careers events, panel events, various education and skills work, policy work, and career opportunities. Fundamentally MAP provides extra opportunities to individuals who want to build careers out of their passion for music. This helps to future-proof the music industry by ensuring new entrants have the right mix of experience and skills.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have the ability to project manage yourself and a portfolio crammed with real life experience. Our Careers and Employability team will also help to find you work placements in and around the area.

What facilities can I use?

Our state-of-the-art recording studios and Dolby Atmos certified sound lab, give you access to the space and technology you need. From individual edit rooms up to large Pro Tools Ultimate studios with attached live rooms and vocal booths, we have it all to help you gain hands-on experience.

  • Studio 1 boasts a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 speaker system and an Avid S6 console. We are one of the first Universities in the UK to adopt Dolby Atmos into a music environment.
  • Studio 2 boasts an Avid D-Command control surface and 24 channels of Focusrite ISA828 microphone preamps.
  • Studio three and the Electronic Music Studio are based around Avid S3/S4 control surfaces and UAD Apollo x8 audio interfaces.
  • The edit booths are equipped with microphone preamps from Avid.

What will I study?

During your time studying on this degree, content will cover both essential and advanced production and composition techniques. You will explore new methods of sound creation and manipulation using industry standard software.

You will also be provided with the opportunity to experiment with DJ and live electronic performance technologies, and a chance to develop your own production skillsets in synthesis and signal processing techniques, as well as refining your knowledge in recording, sampling and mixing audio.

How will I be taught and assessed?

This course is offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree.

Our teaching staff have a wealth of professional and academic experience, with many still actively working in the music industry. You’ll also engage with our dynamic programme of visiting lectures and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and plenty of networking opportunities. You’ll also benefit from our expert-lecturers who have a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry.

You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world.

Teaching on this course will involve a substantial component of small-group teaching, meaning you will receive a personalised and hands-on education.

Much of the teaching is an interactive process, with students, professional practitioner-teachers and academics gaining mutual benefit within a research and professional informed environment. The interaction between teaching, research and scholarship is a key element of our course.

A variety of assessment vehicles will be used as appropriate to the modules you take, including assignments carried out in your own time, in-class assignments, workshops and presentations. Assessments will be appropriate to the task, achievable, motivating and vocationally focussed, forming a constructive part of your learning process.

Placements Plus

BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.

Useful Documents

BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 32 - 56

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the 3-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a Level 4 course, will be considered for the 4-year programme including a Foundation Year. If you wish to enquire further, please send your query along with any academic evidence or references to admissions@bucks.ac.uk

Find out more about our General Entry Requirements.

 

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

Year 1 Modules

Introduction to Music Management, Production and Performance

Preparing for Success Knowledge and Creativity

Preparing for Success Self-development and Responsibility

Inquiry and Research Skills

Year 2 Modules

Audio Production Technologies

Introduction to Pro Tools

Introduction to Sampling and Synthesis

Entertainment Industry Framework

Introduction to Recording

Audio Production Practice

Electronic Music Production

The DIY Musician

Year 3 Modules

Recording & Mixing Techniques

Music Publishing

Hip Hop Production

Industry Experience

Research Methods

Sound Design for Moving Image

Creative Audio Production

Electronic Music Performance

Year 4 Modules

Live Events Project

Live Events Project: Experimental

Dissertation (optional)

Professional Skills Audit

Spatial Audio Design

Professional Production Project

Sonic Installation

Placement Plus (optional)

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2022 - 2023

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2022 - 2023

£14,250 per year

The University is unable to accept any new applications from students who require sponsorship for a student visa to start in September 2022. This is due to the overwhelming popularity of our courses and visa processing timeframes.  Applications are still being taken from students who are already in the UK and hold the right to study.

From September 2022, those students living in the UK or Republic of Ireland, and EU nationals with settled status in the UK, will be considered Home students.

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.

You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

Contact our Enquiries Team:

0330 123 2023

advice@bucks.ac.uk

What are my career prospects? 

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.

Our Electronic Music Production course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities in career pathways such as:

  • Self-employed as professional DJs
  • Recording Engineer
  • Mix Engineer
  • Studio Technician
  • Radio Engineer
  • Web Sound Technician
  • Sound Editor
  • Sound Technology Educator
  • Programmer

To help you prepare for your chosen career, we invite experts from industry to come and talk to you at our High Wycombe campus.

Previous guests speakers include:

Graduates can also choose to study one of our postgraduate courses such as MA Music and Audio Production  and MA Music Business.

 

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